this is what i can work out, i've tried to fill in what i'm unsure about, and they're in brackets.

A cruel wind blew on the cape of Cornwall The mist was carried on a driving rain But on the storm I heard the sound of voices The Geevor lads were singing once again And down the coast from Geevor to (the tavern?) From every house and every chimney stack, A thousand voices joined the rising chorus And (wheel Jane?) and (crofty) answered back

Chorus: I asked them who, I asked them how They answered you, They answered now

Oh tell me lads how can I hear you singing? When most of you died many years ago? They answered break the beam, the stack, the body But they can't break our spirit, you should know We're singing to all of those that yet must follow Before our voices are to faint to hear So they in turn can sing our song tomorrow And sing again in each succeeding year

(Chorus)

Across the moor and to the harvest fields, It seemed the very land took up the song And from the deck and from the angry dock side Men and women, old and young The weaving loom the (winding wheel) and the tin stand Fall across the years all beat in time The clay pit and the old fish cellar answered And the final voice to join them, it was mine

(Chorus)

A cruel wind blew on the cape of Cornwall And the waves like cymbals crashed into the foam The storm beats like a hammer on an anvil I found that I was singing all alone It seemed to me that I had just been dreaming It seemed the chorus must have been in vain And then I heard a whisper in the sunrise The Geevor lads were singing once again

How is it lads that I can here you singing, When most of you died many years ago, Well they can break the stack, the beam, the body, But they can't break our spirit you should know. We're singing now for those who yet may follow, Before our voices are to weak to hear, That they may raise the song again tomorrow, And sing it on through each succeeding year. Ch.

I sing from memory. My memory is imperfect. Sorry. I looked in vain for the lyrics before I offered my poor rendition.

The set of lyrics provided here had some uncertainties that I was happy to clarify. I think there are still a couple of minor errors, but please do not attack Hannalore over it. They too were being as helpful as they could be.

Working from memory is fair enough if the song is obscure, or the writer is long gone. Contacting the writer is a far better solution, if it's possible. A second's work on Google would discover that. I speak with some experience of discovering that one of my songs has been recorded with mangled lyrics because the singers didn't think to check them with me before recording them. They were convinced they remembered them well.

I have no reason to have a pop at Hannalore, he/she was seeking information so kindly refrain from trying to stir up s***.between the two of us. I am sure Hannalore does not wish to become involved in a long running disagreement.

I'd have to dig out the email that Mike sent me but I'm also pretty damned sure the lyrics are called across the years. As I am pretty sure the words are Cape of Cornwall but that in itself does not alter the song to any great degree unlike some of the nonsense posted earlier.

Anne, I responded to a request for help. I acknowledged that it was just from memory, but I gave what help I could. I was able to clarify the uncertainties that Hannalore sought to clear up. Hannalore was kind enough to thank me for that, but Rag attacked me.

Here is another small but significant correction. "From every engine house and chimney stack," It is significant because the ruined engine houses are iconic structures found all over Cornwall, (except the top LH corner) and tell of a once dominant industry now gone.